PSG’s parallels with Celtic’s Lisbon Lions should be appreciated

The Celtic Star

·02 de junho de 2025

PSG’s parallels with Celtic’s Lisbon Lions should be appreciated

Admittedly the PSG story is certainly no fairytale, but they became European Champions by playing the beautiful game the right way, similar to Jock Stein’s legendary Celtic side in May 1967…

Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain prepares to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy after his team’s victory, to secure Paris Saint-Germain’s first ever UEFA Champions League title in the club’s history and a record UEFA Champions League Final winning scoreline of 5-0, following the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Congratulations to PSG who won the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history as they thumped Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich to deservedly be crowned Champions of Europe.

Vídeos OneFootball

Some have scoffed at the celebrations and plaudits placed on the Parisians due to their lavish spending in the past years, and whilst they may have a point it shouldn’t be used to discredit a great achievement by Luis Enrique’s men.

Luis Enrique, Head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain, reacts with Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain as he walks past the UEFA Champions League trophy after collecting his winners medal after defeating FC Internazionale, to secure Paris Saint-Germain’s first ever UEFA Champions League title in the club’s history and a record UEFA Champions League Final winning scoreline of 5-0, following the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Everyone knows that PSG are backed by Qatar billions, and have had the luxury for some time of splashing out on the best talent the world has to offer, but then again so do Manchester City who failed to reach the quarter finals, or Manchester United who have spent more and can’t even win the Europa League or finish in the top half of the EPL, you get my drift.

PSG once boasted talent such as Messi, Neymar and Mbappe, but under Enrique they have invested wisely in young hungry players and more important ones who are extremely talented and not seen as so called superstars. How many of you had heard of a chunk of the Parisian squad this time last year?

Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after his team’s victory, to secure Paris Saint-Germain’s first ever UEFA Champions League title in the club’s history and a record UEFA Champions League Final winning scoreline of 5-0, following the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Enrique has them playing a wonderful brand of football and a style that has made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice. Money shouldn’t come into the equation. They play the game the right way and it’s giving folk a rethink on how the game should be played, they are to borrow a well known French saying Revolutionnaire.

Similar to a legendary side who took Europe by storm back in 1967…on both occasions Inter Milan tried to be cagey, defend and hope for the best. On both occasions their opponents played a brand of attacking football that the Italians couldn’t live with and by the end in both finals they were well beaten and glad to get off the park.

PSG’s record breaking 5-0 scoreline was clearly well deserved. Celtic won 2-1 but that doesn’t tell the story of the 1967 European Cup Final in Lisbon. This does…

This is the 1st ever MAULING in a European Cup Final, @CelticFC @footballontnt HH
– sábado, 31 de maio de 2025

Celtic captain Billy McNeill holds aloft the European Cup after Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in the 1967 European Cup Final in Lisbon. Photo Imago.

In Lisbon football won. In Munich money was a much bigger factor but watching the PSG play like that you can’t deny that football won there too. Well done to PSG, and a special mention to the Lisbon Lions tribute from the PSG supporters on Saturday evening in Munich. An extremely classy nod that was very much appreciated. Hail Hail!